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Esketamine Nasal Spray [Spravato]
Esketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that rapidly blocks glutamate signaling in the brain to produce fast-acting antidepressant effects.
Esketamine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that rapidly blocks glutamate signaling in the brain to produce fast-acting antidepressant effects. Used for Treatment-resistant depression in adults, Major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation or behavior.
At a glance
| Generic name | Esketamine Nasal Spray [Spravato] |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Spravato |
| Sponsor | Royal North Shore Hospital |
| Drug class | NMDA receptor antagonist |
| Target | NMDA receptor |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Psychiatry |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Esketamine is the S-enantiomer of ketamine and works by antagonizing N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which are glutamate-gated ion channels. This blockade leads to rapid disinhibition of downstream neural circuits and increased synaptic plasticity, producing antidepressant effects within hours to days rather than weeks. The nasal spray formulation allows for rapid systemic absorption and CNS penetration.
Approved indications
- Treatment-resistant depression in adults
- Major depressive disorder with acute suicidal ideation or behavior
Common side effects
- Dissociation
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Headache
- Sedation
- Vertigo
- Hypertension
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Esketamine Nasal Spray [Spravato] CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Esketamine Nasal Spray [Spravato] updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Royal North Shore Hospital portfolio CI